Security Incident
What is a HIPAA Security Incident?
A security incident under HIPAA is any attempted or successful unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification, or destruction of electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI). It also includes interference with an organization’s information systems that compromises the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of ePHI.
In simpler terms, a security incident is any event that threatens the protection of PHI, even if it doesn’t result in a confirmed breach.
Healthcare organizations are prime targets for cyberattacks because PHI is extremely valuable on the black market (many times more valuable than credit card numbers). But not all incidents come from external hackers; many are caused by human error or insider misuse.
How security incidents impact Healthcare
One of the biggest impacts that security incidents can have on healthcare is that they erode patient trust. Patients expect confidentiality rules to be followed by the organizations they trust with their information. Secondly, they trigger HIPAA compliance obligations, which require work that distracts from standard duties in patient care. Incidents that escalate into breaches require notifications under HIPAA’s Breach Notification Rule.
Large-scale data breaches can cause system downtime that can delay diagnoses or treatments. These often attract regulatory scrutiny from the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), which investigates how organizations respond to incidents, not just the incidents themselves.
Examples of HIPAA Security Incidents
1. Cybersecurity Threats
- Phishing emails targeting staff credentials.
- Ransomware attempting to encrypt patient records.
- Malware infections spreading through unsecured medical devices.
2. Unauthorized Access Attempts
- An employee tries to access records outside their job role.
- A terminated staff member’s login remains active and is used maliciously.
3. System Disruptions
- Power outage or server failure preventing access to ePHI.
- Denial-of-service attacks slowing down patient portals.
4. Human Error
- PHI emailed to the wrong recipient.
- Misconfigured cloud storage exposing patient files.
Not all of these incidents automatically count as breaches, but they all must be identified, documented, and addressed.
Related Terms
Two Factor Authentication
End-to-End Encryption
Privacy Policy